Opposition MP warns of severe sanctions if elections are rigged

Opposition MP Roman Gotsiridze on Monday highlighted the “critical nature” of the upcoming general elections in October, emphasising their importance for both Europe and America. Gotsiridze warned that if the elections were rigged, severe consequences would follow.

“Sanctions from the European Union in one form or another are inevitable,” Gotsiridze said. “For Europe and America, these are watershed elections. If the elections are falsified, the government will face total sanctions, and regrettably, so will the country. Bidzina Ivanishvili [the founder and the honorary chair of the ruling Georgian Dream party] will be specifically targeted by these sanctions”.

He further stressed the urgency of conducting fair elections: “There are four months left before the elections. If violence is allowed to continue, it will only worsen the situation. The elections must be held in a more or less peaceful environment”.